Wednesday, February 15, 2017

There is no doubt that the Oregon Children's Choral Festival is a great festival - But we are also a simple, even humble festival that welcomes all sizes and skill levels of choirs in a positive, fun and non-competitive day of celebrating each other's voices in song.

No high brow "our choir is better than your choir" thinking on or off the stage. That is one of the things we love about the festival. Everybody gets to sing their hearts out and everyone's hearts are bigger for it!

I have to admit that it was a very pleasant surprise to be contacted by Conductor Dennis Gregory Sugarol and the Mandaue Children's Choir (Philippines), asking if they could come to the festival this year!

I actually asked, "Uhm, are you sure you have the right festival?" Then, feeling like I might sound like I didn't really love our festival I quickly went on... "Don't get me wrong, we have a great festival, but there is no competition in it and we have a wide range of very small and beginning choirs to very good and very large choirs - it's not a typical competitive festival - nobody wins or loses at the end of the day. You'd just be hanging out with... US... all day! And after watching your youtube video, I need to warn you that we won't have a fancy sound system, color light effects, smoke machines or a massive JumboTron TV behind you on stage!"

They said "That sounds great!" It's really all about the kids voices, and getting to sing together and for each other anyway!"

To which I said, "Welcome to the family!"

I did say that I would like them to perform an extra song or two for us if they wouldn't mind. So this year, in addition to the amazing Evynne Hollens, we also get a mini concert from an internationally winning choir!

How cool is that?

Please help spread the word about the festival this year, it's going to be amazing!

If you've never heard of the Mandaue Children's Choir, then you are in for a real treat. They make beautiful music for the ears, eyes and soul! Here is a sample of them performing on TV:

Mandaue Children's Choir: Viva, Pit Senyor!

Here's another video from the 36th George Frederic Handel's International Children's Choir Competition in Halle, Germany on May 8, 2015 - Which they won!